Coal-lifting implement



(No Model.)

0. P. FITZGERALD, Jr. 8v J. R. THOMAS. GOAL LIFTING IMPLEMENT.

Patented Sept. 1, 1896.

fize'ases: 3 fivenz ora 6W? M i y w C fi UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OSCAR P. FITZGERALD, JR, AND JAMES ROSS THOMAS, OF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.

COAL-LIFTING: M PLEM ENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters PatentNo. 567,087, dated September 1, 1896.

Application filed June 15,1896. Serial No. 595,643. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, OSCAR P. FITZGERALD, J r., and JAMES Ross THOMAS, citizens of the United States, residing at Nashville, county of Davidson, State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coal-Lifting Implements, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to coal-liftin g implements, and our main object is to provide a coal-lifting implement which can be manipulated effectually by the direct engagementof the hand with the operating parts in contact with coal, dispensing with the ordinary extended handles used in tongs for this purpose. It is frequently desirable, especially where open grates are used, to put coal upon the fire in small quantities, and for this purpose tongs are ordinarily used; but it is found that such implements are more or less cumbersome in operation, and as a result the lumps are quite often taken up with the hand, therebyv soiling the hands; and one special object of our invention is to obviate this objection by providing a coal-lifting device, which will be directly grasped by the hand and will protect the same from direct contact with the lump of'coal, or with the coal in the hod or other receptacle, and will also sufficiently protect the hand from heat when putting the coal on the fire, a further object being to provide an implement that can act asa scoop in the hand to take up the smallest lumps or particles of coal, and at the same time serve as a lifting device for the average-sized lumps.

With these general objects in view our invention consists, essentially, of the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which-=- Figure 1 is a perspective view of our invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal view on the line 2 2, Fig. 3. Fig. 8 is a top plan view.

In the drawings, where the same characters represent the same parts in all the views, A is a dished plate forming a scoop, preferably of sheet metal, to which is connected a plate B by means of an ordinary strap hinge-joint d, the said plate B being normally pressed away from the scoop A by means of a suitable spring interposed between the two, such, for example, as the leaf-spring D, connected at one end to the scoop A and having its free end in engagement with the inside of plate B. The outside of the scoop A is preferably provided with a projection a, constituting a handle with which the fingers engage, the said projection, in the present instance, being formed by plate a, riveted or otherwise suitably secured to the outer face of the plate or scoop A and rolled over at the end to form the projection C6. The plate B is likewise provided with a suitable projection 12, constituting a handle for engagement with the thumb, the said projection, in the present instance, being of a sheet-metal strip b, soldered, riveted, or brazed to the outer face of the plate and curved outwardly to form the projecting handle I).

Both the plate B and plate 'or scoop A are preferably provided at their free ends with projecting angular prongs or teeth 0, which are arranged to interlock, as shown in Fig. 1.

Covering the outer face of the scoop A is a sheath or guard E, secured along its edges to the face of said scoop and so shaped as to form a cover for the fingers, thereby protecting the same from the coal-dust when in the act of taking the coal from the hod or other place. As shown in Fig. 2, the device is illustrated in the natural position of lifting the coal, a lum p L being shown in dotted lines, and when the lump L is put on the fire the hand may be turned over, so as to present the sheath E toward the radiant heat of the fire, thereby, in a measure, protecting the hand from said heat. I

By providing the two parts of the device with the projecting prongs or teeth the lumps of coal may be more effectually held or grasped, and by making the plate A in the form of a scoop, as shown, the smallest par ticles of coal may be readily taken up.

The operation of our device may be readily understood without further description; and it may be observed that it can be manufac tured at a small cost and finished in any suitable manner, and in its use it not only effects a saving of time over the ordinary tongs, which are operated at a considerable distance from the coal handled, but is more easily manipulated, since in our device the point of application of power is as close to the coal as possible.

While we have shown the preferred form of our invention, it will be understood that various changes will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit thereof; and its use, of course, is not restricted to handling coal, as it may be utilized wherever it is found desirable. lVe may further observe that while we have shown the plates A and B as imperforate, it is obvious that either one or both of these members may be perforate or slotted, as in ordinary tongs in common use, if desirable,

and by the term plate, we wish to be understood as including such changes as are within our invention.

\Ve have shown the device as made of sheet metal, but of course its parts may be cast, if desired, or otherwise suitably made.

We claim as our invention- 1. A coal-liftingimplement consisting of an imperforate dished plate forming a scoop, a second imperforate plate hinged thereto, each of said plates having projecting angular prongs or teeth at the free end thereof the said implement being adapted to be operated by direct contact of the hand therewith, sub stantially as described.

2. A ooal-lifting implement, consisting of two plates hinged together, and a spring interposed between said plates and normally pressing them apart, with projections forming handles on the outer face of said plates with which the fingers and thumb of the hand may engage, substantially as described.

5. A coal-lifting device consisting of two plates hinged together, and a sheath or guard covering the outer face of one of said plates and adapted to cover a portion of the hand in the manipulation of the device, substan tially as described.

l. In a coal-lifting device, the combination of a dished plate forming a scoop, a second plate hinged thereto, a sheath or guard covering the outer face of the scoop, and adapted to cover a portion of the hand in the manipulation of the device, substantially as described.

5. A coal lifting device consisting of a dished plate forming a scoop, a second plate hinged thereto, a spring interposed between the two plates normally pressing them apart, projections on the outer faces of both plates forming handles for engagement with the fingers of the hand, and a sheath or guard in closing the outer face of the scoop adapted to cover a portion of the hand in the manipulation of the device, substantially as described.

6. In a coal-lifting device, the combination with a plate provided with a projection 011 the outer face for engagement of the fingers therewith, and a second plate connected thereto by a hinge-joint and provided with a projection forming a handle for engagement of the fingers therewith, substantially as described.

7. A coal-liftingimplement consisting of an imperforate dished plate forming a scoop, a second imperforate plate hinged thereto, and projecting angular prongs 01' teeth at the free ends of said plates, and a spring interposed between the two plates normally pressing them apart, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

OSCAR P. FITZGERALD, JR. J. ROSS THOMAS. Witnesses:

O. A. Fnneuson, D. BUSH. 

